§ 4. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he can give the number of men on the intermediate rates who have received the increase of pay in the Director of Works Department; and whether the 1s. increase given to excavators in the Director of Works Department is to date back to 1st August, as is the case in other departments of the Royal dockyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAExcavators under the Director of Works will now receive 23s. a week instead of 22s., and the increase will date back to the 1st August. As regards the number of men on the intermediate rates no increases have been granted as a direct result of the increase in the minimum for skilled labourer and of the flat rate for the ordinary labourer. Whether or not any of the men on the intermediate rates have recently received increases under ordinary circumstances and apart from the concessions now under reference, I am not in a position to say.
§ 5. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he can give the reason for the delay in the promulgation of the number of chargemen who will participate in the three shillings increase granted in reply to the petitions of 1911; whether he is aware that although the answer to these petitions was given early in August, that part of the answer referring to increased payment to chargemen has not yet taken effect?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe delay referred to is due to the necessity of carefully considering the additional numbers of chargemen of the several trades at the different dockyards who should be granted the special rate of charge pay; the numbers will be determined and the awards made very shortly, and the concession will take effect as from 1st August last.